As we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo lunar landings, we’re on the cusp of an exciting return to our nearest planetary neighbor with the administration’s 2019 proposed budget for NASA.

Just as the European masters brought forth a magical period of learning, discovery, invention, fine arts and music 500 years ago, with the advances in the science and technologies proliferating today, we expect a rejuvenation in human space activity in this dawn of the 21st century.

There are many valid critiques of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new direction for NASA. Few, if any, would be new. But Russian government officials saw an opportunity for domestic attention and took a stab at it.